Oscar Moore / Oscar Moore Quartet

Biography

25 December 1912, Austin, Texas, USA, d. 8 October 1981, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Moore formed his first band with his brother Johnny (who was also a guitarist), while still in his mid-teens. In 1937 he became a founder member of the Nat King Cole Trio, and for the next few years was an important element in the groups success. In 1947 Moore joined the Three Blazers, a group led by his brother, and also led his own groups for recording sessions. In the mid-50s he dropped out of music, but returned occasionally to gig and make recording sessions as a sideman. Moore, an outstanding guitarist in the mould of Charlie Christian, was an exceptionally gifted soloist and an accompanist of rare distinction. The quicksilver exchanges between him and Cole on their early records provide eloquent testimony to his talent and make his long and presumably self-determined absence from the scene a matter of considerable regret.